Did you know

Billy Ivory, actor and playwright was a pupil at the Minster School

Matthew Horne, actor (Gavin in Gavin and Stacey’ ) was a pupil at the Minster School

Houses of Correction were not gaols but were places where people who were considered to be ’wantonly idle or disorderly’ could be set to work to try to reform their characters and act as a deterrent for others. The first Master of the Nottinghamshire House of Correction situated on the Burgage was appointed in 1611.

A large cotton mill built in 1784 can be clearly seen at Maythorne on the outskirts of Southwell. It was later converted to silk production and is currently apartments

In the mid 19th century, stocking knitting was a common home employment and in 1844 it is recorded that there were 120 frames in Southwell with 65 workshops. Sunnyside (Westhorpe) was a row of knitters’ cottages. The row was partially demolished to widen the Halam Road)

From the middle ages, Southwell had many groups of weavers who produced ‘plain linens, woolens and ticking’ both at home and later in textile-producing premises. Local names such as Weavers Yard in Farthingale reflect this

Henry Merryweather senior moved to Southwell to become a gardener to Rev J D Becher at Norwood Hall before buying two fields and setting up his garden nursery on land adjacent to the Hall

King Charles 1 spent his last night of freedom in the Saracen’s Head in 1646, on the Market Place before surrendering to the Scottish levelers at Kelham

Many innkeepers kept pigs and the piggery at the Hearty Goodfellow was so big that it occupied the whole garden area at the back

The Crown Hotel on the Market Place (at the junction of Church Street and Westgate) dates back to the early 18th Century and at one time was owned by the Chapter of Southwell Minster

After the end of WW1, the residents of Southwell raised the funds to erect Memorial Cross on the Burgage in 1921 at a cost of £446

Admiral Rodney was known as Rodney’s Head in 1780 named after Admiral Rodney a naval hero in the Battle of Cape Vincent.

The Black Bull Inn was where Mix Mix and The Hen House shops are now, but some of the original outbuildings can be seen if you go through the alleyway into Bull Yard

There is another Southwell in South Africa, built and named by settlers from Southwell Nottinghamshire

Southwell Racecourse opened in 1808 and included a 1200 seat wooden grandstand

There is a bricked-up malting oven (probably serving the local pubs on King Street) in the pathway beside the Bramley Centre (the library)

Before the Court House was built, some of the local inns (including the George and Dragon, now the Bramley Apple pub) were used to conduct public administration and act as local courts.

The cultivation of the Bramley apple was pioneered by Southwell nurseryman Henry Merryweather junior whose nursery was sited off Halam Road

Between 1780 and 1850 Southwell had three Coaching Inns – the Saracen’s Head, the Crown, and Admiral Rodney – all still open in the town. The coaches took passengers to and from destinations as far afield as Manchester, Birmingham. Gainsborough, Hull, Lincoln, Barton, Derby, Buxton as well as to more local places such as Mansfield and Nottingham

Southwell Parish Workhouse (not to be confused with the National Trust managed Workhouse on the Upton Road) was built in 1808 on Moor Lane (now Nottingham Road) to accommodate 84 paupers. It is currently the home of Southwell Baptist Church.

In the early 19th century, Southwell Races were held on the Burgage on a regular basis. The event at Whitsuntide being the most popular. In 1815 prizes included a saddle and bridle for the winner of the main race and a tea kettle for the winner of the Ass Race.

Alvin Stardust (aka Shane Fenton aka Bernard Jewry) was a boarder at Southwell Minster Grammar School where he formed his first band

In World War 1 a total of 650 men from Southwell served their country. Nearly 250 died – almost twice the 10% average for Britain and the Allies

Southwell has both a Market Place (the original site of the town’s market) and a Market Square (where the current Market is held) How confusing!!

In the Middle Ages Southwell was visited by many pilgrims who came to see a supposedly miracle-working cross in the Minster? (which may explain why there are so many inns near the Minster!)

Burgage Manor at the top of the Burgage Green was used as a hospital for most of World War 1